Vancouver

Hiking

Two hikers admiring the views (Picture BC photo)

Whether exploring as part of a guided hiking tour or as an independent hiker, Vancouver's provincial, regional and municipal parks offer a range of well-marked trails catering to all levels of ability.

There are countless walking and hiking opportunities and trails within the city, or close by. Presiding over Vancouver, the North Shore Mountains are the southernmost grouping of the 1,600km/994mi Coast Mountain Range.

Locals and visitors alike flock to the North Shore's Grouse Grind trail. Just 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, this continuous uphill battle is often referred to as "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" and serves as the benchmark of physical fitness for many Vancouverites.

Also in the North Shore Mountains, Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver and Mount Seymour Provincial Park in North Vancouver offer challenging day hikes, many with stunning views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. Having a vehicle is the easiest way to reach these parks.

When to Hike Vancouver

Vancouver boasts one of Canada's gentlest climates. While it can be wet during autumn and winter, it won't be excessively cold or snowy, except at elevations above 700m/2,300ft in the North Shore Mountains. That means that most of its low-elevation forest and shoreline trails are in season any time of year. Hiking season in the upper reaches of the North Shore Mountains usually doesn't begin until July, as routes can be snow-covered or muddy until then.

Getting to Trailheads

Many of Vancouver's most notable hiking routes are easily accessed by public transportation, including the lush, mossy trails of Capilano River and Pacific Spirit regional parks and the oceanfront rocky bluffs of Lighthouse Park.

Hike Preparation, Practical Points and Safety

Broadway (between Main and Cambie streets) is known as the place to shop for outdoor gear, with a clustering of shops including the giant centerpiece – Mountain Equipment Co-op. Many stores here provide rental gear.

Local bookstores stock an array of books for the self-guided traveller, while Visitor Centres and park entrances offer trail maps.

While Vancouver's wilderness is convenient, it is also rugged. Even trails at the edge of the city should be treated as serious backcountry. Proper planning, preparation, clothing and footwear appropriate to the conditions, and an adequate water and food supply are essential.

Remember the following:

Weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains.

Dress in layers and bring wet-weather gear, no matter what season.

Even the most popular, well-maintained trails can be rocky, tangled with roots, muddy and slippery. Wear hiking boots with good ankle and arch support and be prepared to get muddy.

At higher elevations, snow and mud may linger on trails until late June or even early July. Prepare yourself accordingly.

Please leave the area you visit undisturbed and be sure to carry out your garbage.

Cougars, bears and other wildlife inhabit the region. Do not get too close to or attempt to feed wild animals.

Intermediate

Advanced

Baden-Powell Trail

The 42-km/25mi Baden-Powell Trail is the main route in the large system of North Shore Mountain trails. It extends all the way from Horseshoe Bay (west) to Deep Cove (east). Because it is not intended as one long hike, but rather as several shorter ones, it can be accessed from several points.

Beginning from the trail's most westerly point, hikers ascend about 1,140m/3,740ft to the top of Black Mountain in Cypress Provincial Park. From there, the Baden-Powell gradually descends toward the charming village of Deep Cove. Savour breathtaking views of Vancouver through densely forested trails. For an abridged version, hike from Deep Cove to the high bluff overlooking Indian Arm.

Rated: advanced, with some moderate and easy sections

Approximate time required: varies by route

Best time: March to October (lower portion) and June to October (western portion)

Capilano River Regional Park

A 20-minute drive from downtown, North Vancouver's Capilano River Regional Park offers trekkers a 26km/16mi system of trails along Capilano Canyon. The canyon itself is a deep slice engulfed by granite cliffs and second-growth forest.

Known as the Capilano Pacific Trail, the main route runs 7.5km/4.5mi each way along the west side of the rushing Capilano River – the entire length of the park. There are a number of shorter trails in the vicinity of the Salmon Hatchery. One of these, Second Canyon Viewpoint Trail leads hikers to incredible views of the canyon and Cleveland Dam spillway. A return trip via Giant Fir Trail will bring you face-to-face with Grandpa Capilano, a massive, old-growth Douglas-fir tree.

Rated: easy

Approximate time required for Capilano Pacific Trail: 4 hours

Approximate time required for Second Canyon Viewpoint Trail: 45 minutes

Cypress Provincial Park

Cypress Provincial Park has been one of the Lower Mainland's most popular hiking destinations for over 100 years. The 3,000ha/7,413ac park is thick with western red cedars and yellow cedars, while wildlife such as coyotes, deer, black bears and squirrels plus a wide variety of birds call it home. Sparkling mountain lakes are found below the park's peaks of Mount Strachan, Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain. Cypress offers stunning vistas of Vancouver.

Cypress Provincial Park is located in the North Shore Mountains, a 40-minute drive from Vancouver. The ski-area parking lot is accessible by a road that winds its way up to a 900m/2,953ft elevation.

Rated: easy to advanced

Best Time: While the park is open year round, the most ideal times for hiking are from late-April to mid-October

Approximate time required: varies by route

Grouse Mountain (Grind and Mountain)

Just a 25-minute drive from downtown, Grouse Mountain presides majestically over North Vancouver. The Grouse Grind™, a trek up the face of the mountain, is such a popular hike in Vancouver that it's even been trademarked. Locals often refer to the 2.9km/1.8mi slog up 853m/2,800ft as "Mother Nature's Stairmaster."

Something of a cult classic among fitness buffs, the trek is more aerobic than scenic until the top. The prize for huffing and puffing is a glorious, panoramic view of downtown Vancouver, Washington's Mt. Baker, the Pacific Ocean and – off in the distance – Vancouver Island.

Still have energy at the top? Consider an easy stroll along the trails starting in and around the mountaintop.

Rated: advanced

Approximate time required: 1.5 to 2 hours

Best time: late spring to October

Proper footwear is a must

The trail is free (many pay the $10 fee to ride the aerial tram down)

Lighthouse Park

The entire family will enjoy this wilderness escape at the mouth of Burrard Inlet. Hidden on the outskirts of West Vancouver and a mere 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the well-developed trail system includes the option of completing an invigorating 5km/3mi circuit through centuries-old Douglas-fir and cedar forest.

To the east, enjoy fabulous views of English Bay, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver's iconic skyline. To the west is Bowen Island and, further on, Vancouver Island. The park itself boasts a multitude of large, smooth rocks, ideal for relaxing in the sun or enjoying a picnic. Of course, no trip to the park is complete without a look at its namesake, the 1912 Point Atkinson Lighthouse.

Lynn Canyon Park

Lynn Canyon Park is a municipal park located at the foot of the North Shore Mountains, about a 35-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. It features pockets of second-growth coastal rainforest; sheer canyons; creeks; natural pools; a suspension bridge and a café. Vegetation includes Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western redcedar and 40 types of moss. Visit the Lynn Creek Ecology Centre, near the parking lot, for more information about flora and fauna in the park.

The first thing most people do when they enter the park is cross the Lynn Creek suspension bridge adjacent to the parking lot. The bridge hangs 50m/164ft above the creek and sways and springs underfoot. Once across, walk upstream 10 minutes to 30 Foot Pool or downstream to Twin Falls, a 15-minute walk. There are also links to trail networks in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. The reserve features a short loop around Rice Lake and Fisherman's Trail, which runs alongside the Seymour River. The regional park has trails that extend deep into the mountains.

Many trails have steep stairways, roots and rocks, so exercise caution in slippery conditions.

Rated: easy to moderate

Time required: varies by route

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Located within the University of British Columbia's Endowment Lands, Pacific Spirit Regional Park offers walkers an easily accessible, forested retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

With more than 50km/30mi of walking trails, the park traverses rainforest, deep ravines and marshlands en route to the Pacific Ocean and Fraser River.

Nature enthusiasts will wonder at the assortment of trees – including maple and alder – and wildlife buffs are sure to spot bald eagles, harbour seals or sea ducks.

Visitors can also explore the 12,000 year-old Camosun Bog. A walk across its boardwalk reveals a rich array of vegetation, including sphagnum moss, cloudberry and sundew.

Many of the trails are multi-use, so be prepared to share the trail with cyclists and equestrians. Please note that pedestrians are required to yield to horseback riders. Some of the routes are pedestrian-use only and some permit dogs off-leash. There is heavier trail use on weekends.

First-time visitors are recommended to start their journey at the Pacific Spirit Regional Park Centre on 16th Avenue near the university.

Mount Seymour Provincial Park

Mount Seymour Provincial Park has been a popular hiking destination since the 1920s. Trails in the 3,508ha/8,668ac park lead hikers through awe-inspiring old-growth and second-growth firs, cedar and hemlock; past meadows and small lakes; as well as by towering rock faces en route to panoramic views of Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Indian Arm and the Coast Mountains.

Mount Seymour Provincial Park is located in the North Shore Mountains, a 40-minute drive from Vancouver. The park is accessed by a paved, winding road that ends at the downhill ski area parking lot at an elevation of 1,020m/3,346ft.

Rated: intermediate to advanced

While the park is open year round, the most ideal times for hiking are from late-April to mid-October

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